The Hot Springs star. (Hot Spings [Hot Springs], Dakota [Dakota Territory, i.e. S.D.]) 1886-189?, 1887-05-13

49, 0W3Oo ~ - GOOAA0D0 W9y@O0ob0k
nothing, Of his SURROUNDINGS. The
world has grown indifferentto him, for
he wa standing face to lace with death
death or disgrace. He had been
forced BY his own reckless folly into a
corner where he must choose between
the two. And life was sweet to him
because Of his love. and disgrace was
all the more unbearable because Of her.
He had no excuse for his folly. He
had borrowed . sum from the bank,
relying on an expected payment from
. friend. The friend suddenly died
insolvent. Vance had squandered the
banks money, partly at the gaming
table. II must be replaced, Or
He turned suddenly. He would tell
Rose all. How unworthy, how ignoble
he wasl At his best he had never de-
served her, and now Her love
should have lifted him out Of his follies
should have suficed for him. He
seemed to Q all the sweet possibili-
ties Of his life rising before him. He
caught his breath with a gasp-it was
too late, too late!
A drear London mist was rising. He
was rather glad to have the people
blotted out, and the houses. He longed
to be alone neutrality-suspicious., yet
he shuddered at the awful loneliness of
death.
"But 1t would be easier to leave q
world wrapt up in fog" he said, ethan
q land OF sunshine and flowers. II
there is anything that can make a man
feel like suicide It is q London fog"
Rosalia was waiting for him. She
was not to sing this evening, and she
paced the room impatiently, with some
feeling OF unrest she could not explain.
Her cheeks were scarlet, her eyes shone
like stars. OF late she had lost her
pallor In the evening. Roses bloomed
on the delicate cheeks-such roses as
would have made her mothers heart
ache il she had lived to see them.
..Such brightness dying seems diff
fuse"
Vance was not wise enough to un-
derstand. He only saw that she was
growing more beautiful. When he
looked into her eyes he tried to mask
his own misery, but she read some ter
rible secret in his face.
ssTell me-" she faltered. I can bear
anything IL you will only be frank. Is
1t that you have ceased to loye meP l
have been much afraid of that. Moth
ing else can hurt me-"
"No, no! God knows I never loved
you BETTER" cried Vance, bitterly.
"There! I an answered." cried
Rose, in ecstacy. sNo matter about
the rest"
Vance caught the slight form in his
arms, and crushed her to his breast.
'sMy darling" he cried, "Ihave been
mad! I see it now, darling. Why did
We ever meetP"
because we were meant for one an
other" whispered Rose. family smll-
ing.
aLet me tell you. must" said the
young man, in sudden anguish. 81
will tell you all the truth"
he poured out his story with fever.
ish haste.
.sThere!" he gasped, as he finished.
"What is left for mep"
81 am left, Vance," she said, nest
ling up to him.
ssYou see, Ican'tsay, sall is lost save
honor!'" cried Vance. "Honor 10 lost
first ofall.'
..How much time is there before
she faltered, paling visibly.
Before discovery and the trial and
the prisonp Bah! do you think I would
face thatP"
ooh! what do you meanp" she cried,
clinging to him in terror. s.But / know
IL know! Oh, promise me, Vance
you will not. You will wait-wait two
days. I might think-of a way"
"Child, what could you dop Have
you boarded up five Thousand dollarsp'
l cried Vance, mockingly.
mo; do not jest, but promise me-
He saw her face SO ghastly in its ter
ror. that he did his best to dispel th,
phantom he had raised.
She only half believed him. Whel
he left her she could not rest. It wa,
10 O'Clock, and the night was a drear.
one. The fog had turned 10 a drear.
drizzle, and the pavements lookei
Shiny and forbidding in the pale glim
mer of the street lamps.
Rose shuddered as she looked out
A child Of the sun, she shrank from tn
cold and the fog and storm, but sh
faced It, nevertheless, wrapping hersel
in q waterproof and covering her blacl
felt hat with q vail.
81 have No time to lose, - she said, an,
the scarlet spot few back to he
cheeks, though her teeth were chatter
ing. HE viii be busy tomorrow.
must zee him tonight"
Out in the street she was sensible q
. cold misery that penetrated her be
ing. She was too absorbed in her mil
sion to analyyxs II, or to notice that he
kid clippers were soaked and solder
'It Is . chance" she said to hersel
sand I must not let 1t Co."
She had calculated well. Zachar
! Taylor had expected to hear her sin
that night, and WIS even now emer,
ing in . very bad humor from the hal
The blonde Lillian was smiling q
him In vain. He excused himself an
plunged into the fcg-a big, unwield
figure, who looked capable Of maxim
his way through the mist that SCENE
I solid enough to lean against. &
stopped with . jerk as . little trent
ling hand was Laid on his arm.
"You said-you said.'' faltered Ros
3 almost In tears, ..that II I ever wante
. friend-and, oh! I want one now.
.vvhy, bless my soul. my dear lit